Witchy, Moody Makeup by Daniel Martin for Lancome at Chris Benz Fall 2011

Backstage in the craziness that was the Chris Benz Fall 2011 Presentation, makeup artist Daniel Martin told me that Chris had been inspired by "weird voodoo witchcraft mysticism down in the South." Intrigued?

"Chris has been going to SCAD down in Savannah and teaching a fashion class," Martin told me. "The inspiration was this witchy, moody kind of a girl." The makeup muse for this collection was PJ Harvey -- "She had this really haunting voice, this crazy blue eyeshadow," Martin said.

The nails were done by Anna-Maria for Lancome. Love that black!

Martin went for a "messed up" look with the makeup to contrast the refined nature of the collection, using two new 5-pan palettes from Lancome -- blonde and black models had blue makeup, while brunettes got aubergine. Martin melded four of the colors from the palette "in a way that someone could do it with their fingers," he told me. "We didn't want it to look too pretty." He also smudged the mascara ("If it's clumpy, it's better," he said), sculpted the cheeks, and finished lips with a sheer tone. "Everything is a little off -- it's nothing too done," he finished by saying.

The gorgeous makeup paired with deconstructed waves by John Ruidant for Redken and either red or black nails by Anna-Maria for Lancome. I'm inclined to say I will be definitely be trying this look going forward!